Men Charged with Poaching

Three Madison County men have been charged with illegally killing more than 30 ducks out of season. The Illinois Conservation Police say Steven Dean of Granite City, along with Bradley Peters and Daniel Groves of Wood River, were arrested on April 25 and face the felony charges for the illegal killing March 6. The illegal killings included northern pintail and mallard species and left several ducks crippled.

Duck season ended on January 7th. In addition, authorities say Groves was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm when he is ineligible for a Firearm Owners Identification Card, a Class 4 Felony. An anonymous tip led to the arrests of the three men through the Illinois T.I.P. (Target Illinois Poachers) hotline at 877-236-7529.